Paramedic Schools in Florida with Program Overviews

Florida has 43 schools that offer paramedic programs. Learn about the degree programs, tuition information and program options for the 10 largest schools to make an informed education decision.

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Essential Information

Students can find associate's degree and certificate programs for training to become a paramedic. These are hands-on programs that include clinical and laboratory coursework. Some programs also include internships.

Many paramedic programs have special admission requirements. Depending on the school, these may include a drug screening, current immunizations, a criminal background check and prerequisite coursework. Each of the following programs can prepare students for the state-administered paramedic licensing exam.

Career Requirements

In Florida, prior to becoming a paramedic, students have to become basic emergency medical technicians. From there, students need to graduate from an approved paramedic educational program and pass a licensing examination developed by the state. Once these requirements have been met, students can seek out employment as licensed paramedics.

Brevard Community College

Students at Brevard Community College in the city of Cocoa can enroll in a paramedic certificate or associate's program. The certificate program can be completed in 3 semesters and includes 7 paramedic courses. The associate's program has many of the same paramedic courses as the certificate program, along with technical electives and general education requirements. Admission to the paramedic program at this school is limited - students have to submit a special application in order to be considered.

Broward College

Broward College in Fort Lauderdale offers a paramedic technical certificate and an associate's degree in emergency medical services. The 42-semester-hour certificate option requires courses in medical emergencies, trauma and cardio-respiratory emergencies. There are also numerous field clinicals and an internship that have to be completed. The 73-semester-hour associate's degree program has similar content, but the program also covers basic EMT requirements and general education courses.

Florida State College at Jacksonville

A paramedic technical certificate can be obtained at this school in Jacksonville. As part of the required 42 credit-hours of coursework, students complete 3 clinicals and 1 field internship. The paramedic courses for this program cover airway trauma, pharmacology, patient assessment and paramedic operations. With the addition of general education coursework, students can complete the certificate program curriculum and earn an Associate in Science in Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

School Type & Setting: 4-year, primarily associate's, public; large city

Hillsborough Community College

In Tampa, Hillsborough Community College has certificate and associate's degree programs for prospective paramedics. While the associate's degree option is 73 credit hours, the certificate program is only 42 credit hours. The associate's degree program includes general education, EMT-Basic and paramedic coursework. Students enrolled in the paramedic core curriculum can learn about medical, legal and ethical issues, as well as patient assessment, electrocardiograms and trauma treatment.

Indian River State College

Indian River State College in Fort Pierce is home to a paramedic certificate program and an EMS associate's program. It takes roughly 10 months to finish the certificate program. As part of the curriculum, students spend time not only in laboratories and classrooms, but also at intensive care hospitals and in ambulances. Pleural decompression, EKG interpretation, drug administration, defibrillation and endotracheal intubation are all skills that can be learned in this school's paramedic program.

Miami Dade College

Students can enroll in a paramedic certificate program at this college in Miami. In roughly 3 semesters, students can complete the 42 college credits necessary to graduate. The paramedic program is offered every semester at this school. As part of the clinical portion of the program, students are expected to work at a facility in the Miami Dade County area. An EMS associate's program is also available that includes paramedic core coursework and general education requirements.

School Type & Setting: 4-year, primarily associate's, public; large city

Palm Beach State College

This school offers a paramedic certificate and an associate's degree in emergency medical services at its Lake Worth campus. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs has accredited the school's paramedic program. The daytime courses for the certificate program begin during the fall semester, and it takes about 3 semesters to finish the 3 required paramedic courses, 3 clinical requirements and 1 field internship. The associate's program can be completed in 3 years on a part-time basis and 2 years for full-time students.

Seminole State College of Florida

Students near Sanford can pursue a paramedic certificate or an associate's degree in emergency medical services at Seminole State College of Florida. The classes taken in the paramedic certificate program are also taken in the emergency medical services associate's degree program. Students in the associate's program can acquire a general education and fulfill paramedic-level emergency medical requirements. Each paramedic course is paired with a laboratory class. Basic and advanced life support techniques, including intravenous fluid initiation, venipuncture, defibrillation and electrocardiogram analysis, are covered at this school.

St. Petersburg College

A paramedic certificate can be earned in Clearwater at St. Petersburg College. Throughout the certificate program's 42 credit hours, students complete didactic and laboratory work related to paramedic studies. At the start of the program, students are educated on medical terminology, paramedic practice, anatomy, physiology and pharmacology. The program ends with an internship and several clinical opportunities.

Students at St. Petersburg College can also pursue an associate's degree in emergency medical services. The associate's program includes basic EMT and paramedic training classes, and general education coursework is required as well.

School Type & Setting: 4-year, primarily associate's, public; small city

Valencia College

Valencia College is based in Orlando and offers students the choice of a certificate or an associate's degree in paramedic technology. Core paramedic coursework is also offered at the school's Osceola campus in Kissimmee. The core requirements in the paramedic certificate program consist of 3 terms that add up to 42 credits in clinical, laboratory and classroom courses. When pursued as an associate's degree, the emergency medical services technology program allows students to complete paramedic-level EMT and general education coursework.